t with my sincere apologies,"
murmured Vittore, restoring the watch and other valuables.

It was not until the next morning that Everard had an opportunity to
give Carmel the peasant necklace for which he had ventured down to
Targia Vecchia. Her delight was immense.

"Why, it's the very one I wanted!" she exclaimed. "It will be the gem of
my whole collection. I shall always call it the Brigand Necklace, after
this. You went through a great deal to bring it back, Everard!"

"Oh, never mind! That's all over and finished with now. I'm going to
forget it!"

"You may forget it, but I shan't! I shall always remember how you called
them cowards, and asked for a sporting chance. I must say I like men to
be able to take care of themselves. As for Signor Ernesto, I haven't
forgiven him yet, and on the whole I'm not altogether quite sure that I
ever shall!"

CHAPTER XIX

At Palermo

It was perhaps to atone for the indignities which Everard had suffered
at the hands of Ernesto and Vittore, in the practical joke that they had
played upon him, that Signor Trapani proposed to take the Ingletons for
a few days' trip to Palermo. He declared he could not allow them to
leave Sicily without a peep at the famous capital city, and that in
motoring there they could also see some of the sights upon the way.
Though they were perfectly happy at Casa Bianca, a visit to Palermo was
of course a great attraction, and the party, including Cousin Clare and
Mr. Stacey, were all excitement and smiles.

"We're to stay at an hotel," announced Carmel, "and Ernesto and Vittore
are to have dinner with us."

"And Douglas, too," added Dulcie, with satisfaction. "I heard your uncle
say he had asked him."

"Oh, did he? I'm so glad. Now we shall have plenty of cavaliers to take
us about. What fun it will be! You'll just love Palermo. I always sing
a jubilee when Mother has a shopping expedition there and wants me to go
with her."

"Hurrah for to-morrow, then!" proclaimed Dulcie.

Taking only a little light luggage the lucky travelers packed themselves
into two cars and set off on their pleasure-jaunt. Leaving the sea they
turned inland to the mountain region, and with a short stop at
Centuripe, to get the magnificent view of Etna, they motored on to
Castrogiovanni, a wonderful old town set, like an eagle's nest, on the
very crest of a high hill, and full of relics of Greeks, Carthaginians,
Romans, Saracens, and Normans, who had held its fo